Spacing strip for produce tray



Aug. 8, 1967 w. B. CRANE SPACING STRIP FOR PRODUCE TRAY Filed July 27, 1964 INVENTOR. Mara/v 5. Gem/v5 BY ATTfiQ/MEV United States Patent 3,334,738 SPACING STRIP FOR PRODUCE TRAY Walton B. Crane, Arcadia, Califl, assignor to Allied Plastics Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed July 27, 1964, Ser. No. 385,244 6 Claims. (Cl. 20665) This invention relates generally to the art of stacking produce containers, or trays, of the type having upstanding wire couplers for interlocking stacked trays against relative shifting. The invention relates more particularly to a spacer for interconnecting and spacing adjacent columns of stacked trays of the character described.

Agricultural products, such as berries, fruit, vegetables, and the like, are commonly stored and shipped in large open-topped produce trays, or lugs as they are sometimes called. These trays are constructed so they may be stacked one on top of the other for storage and shipment. One type of produce tray for this purpose is equipped with upstanding wire couplers which project above the end walls of the tray. When several of these trays are stacked one on top of the other, the couplers in each tray engage in slots in the end walls of the adjacent upper trays, thereby to interlock the stacked trays against shifting relative to one another. For convenience, the trays are generally handled in stacked pairs, each composed of two trays stacked one on top of the other with the wire couplers on the lower tray engaging in the end wall slots of the upper tray.

During storage and shipment, produce trays of this type are stacked in vertical columns arranged side by side in a number of parallel rows. The adjacent columns of stacked trays in each row and the adjacent columns of stacked trays in adjacent rows are generally spaced to provide air passages through the tray stack in order to assure proper ventilation of the produce in the trays. In a tray stack of this type, particularly one in which the columns of trays are spaced, it is desirable during storage of the stacked trays, and essential during transportation of the stacked trays from one point to another, to interconnect adjacent columns of trays against shifting relative to one another.

A general object of this invention is to provide a spacer for interconnecting adjacent columns of stacked produce trays of the character described in order to prevent relative shifting of the columns during storage and shipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spacer of the character described which retains adjacent columns of stacked trays in spaced relation, thereby to maintain ventilation passages between the columns.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spacer of the character described which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and otherwise ideally suited to its intended purposes.

Other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will becomme readily evident as the description proceeds.

A presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by reference to the attached drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stack of produce trays wherein the columns of stacked trays are interconnected by spacers constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tray stack in FIG. 1 on slightly reduced scale;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a spacer according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlargement of a portion of the spacer in ice FIG. 3 and showing particularly one of the coupler-re ceiving slots in the spacer; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 5-5 in FIG. 2.

Referring now to this drawing, the spacer 10 of this invention comprises a relatively long, narrow strip 12 of a material having suflicient strength to enable the spacer to function in the manner hereinafter described. The spacer may be made from various materials, such as plastic, corrugated paperboard, or metal, for example, aluminum. In the strip 12 are two rows 14 and 16 of slot-like openings 18. While the illustrated strip has three slots in each slot row 14 and 16, it will become evident from the ensuing description that spacers according to the invention may have a lesser or greater number of slots in each slot row. The adjacent slots in the two slot rows are aligned crosswise of the strip 12 and have common transverse center lines 20 which extend normal to the length of the strip. The spacing between adjacent center lines 20 is approximately double the spacing between each outer center line 20 and the adjacent end of the strip 12. In the case of the illustrated interconnecting spacer 10, wherein each slot row 14 and 16 has three slots 18, the center line 20 of the centrally located pair of slots is coincident with the transverse center line of the strip 12.

The shape of the slots 18 constitutes a primary and highly important feature of the invention. As shown best in FIG. 4, each slot 18 has a straight outer edge 22, parallel to the longitudinal center line of the strip 12, and a curved inner edge 24. The straight edges 22 of the several slots 18 in each slot row 14 and 16 are aligned lengthwise of the strip. The ends of the straight edge 22 and curved edge 24 of each slot 18 converge to define therebetween relatively narrow slot ends 26. According to the preferred practice of the invention, the end walls of each slot 18 are curved to a small radius, as shown. The reason for this will appear presently.

The interconnecting spacer 10 of the invention is designed for use with produce trays 28 of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Each produce tray is rectangular in outline and has parallel side walls 30 and parallel end walls 32. Midway between and parallel to the end walls 32 is a center connecting wall 34 which joins the centers of the side walls 30. Each end wall 32 of the produce tray has a wire coupler 36 which is located approximately midway between the side walls 30 and projects above the upper edge of the respective end wall. This wire coupler is formed from a wire which is bent to provide the coupler with an inverted U-shape. In the bottom of each tray end wall 32, in line with the adjacent wire coupler 36, is a slot (not shown). When stacking produce trays of the type shown, one tray is placed on top of another, with the wire couplers 36 in the lower tray engaging in the bottom slots in the adjacent upper tray.

The spacer 10 of this invention is intended for use during stacking of a number of produce trays 28 to form a tray stack, such as that illustrated at 40 in FIG. 1. The trays 28 in this stack are placed one on top of the other in a number of vertical columns 42 with the wire couplers 36 on each tray engaging in the bottom slots in the adjacent upper tray. These wire couplers, then, serve to interlock the several produce trays 28 in each column 42 against shifting relative to one another.

The tray columns 42 are arranged in two parallel rows 44. In order to minimize spoiling of the produce in the trays 28, the adjacent columns 42 of trays in each of the rows 44, as well as the adjacent rows, are generally spaced, as shown, to provide ventilation air passages 46 between the columns. For convenience of handling, the tray stack 40 may be supported on a pallet 48 which may be transported from one place to another by a forklift truck.

The columns 42 of produce trays 28 in the tray stack 40 are interconnected against shifting relative to one another, and are maintained in spaced relation, by three spacers located on the top of the stack. The center spacer 10 overlies adjacent end walls of the adjacent trays in the two rows 44. The wire couplers 36 on these adjacent end walls project through the slots 18 in the center spacer 10 and are folded inwardly of the spacer, in the manner shown in FIG. 2, thereby to lock the spacer in position on the stack. The two outer spacers 10 overlie the outer end walls of the trays in the two rows 44. The wire couplers 36 on these latter end walls project through the outermost slots in the adjacent spacer and are bent inwardly over the spacer, as shown, thereby to retain the outer spacers in position on the stack.

The distance A between the center lines 20 of the pairs of slots 18 in each spacer 10 is greater than double the width of each produce tray 28. Accordingly, the spacers 10 space the adjacent columns 42 of stacked trays 28 in each column row 44. The spacing B between each pair of transversely aligned slots 18 is greater than the end wall thickness of the produce trays. Accordingly, the center spacer 10 spaces the two column rows 44.

It is apparent, therefore, that the spacers 10 interconnect the tray columns 42, at their upper ends, to prevent the columns from shifting realtive to one another, and,

-in addition, space the columns to provide the ventilation air passages 46 therebetween. Generally, the pallet 48 is equipped with spacers 50 for spacing the columns 42 at their lower ends. Additional spacers 10 may be placed at one or more levels in the tray stack 40, particularly if the spacers 50 are omitted from the pallet 48.

As mentioned earlier, the shape of the slots 18 in the spacers 10 constitutes a primary and highly important feature of the invention. Referring to FIG. 4, it will be noted that the radius of curvature of the curved ends 26 of each slot 18 is approximately the same as the radius of curvature of the wire making up the wire couplers '36 of each produce tray. The length of each slot is approximately the same as the width of each wire coupler. It is apparent, therefore, that the slots 18 are shaped to facilitate initial insertion of the wire couplers through the slots and to thereafter locate the wire couplers in fixed positions in the slots. In other words, the relatively wide central portion of each slot 18 enables a coupler 36 to be easily initially engaged in the slot. As the spacer is forced downwardly over the coupler, the curved edge 24 of the slot guides the coupler into the narrow ends 26 of the slot. In the final assembled position of the spacer on the coupler, shown in FIG. 4, the coupler is restrained against movement in all directions parallel to the plane of the spacer.

Clearly, therefore, the invention herein described is fully capable of attaining the several objects and advantages preliminarily set forth.

While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, various modifications of the invention are possible within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination:

two parallel rows of rectangular produce trays, each including to opposite end walls and two opposite side walls, a wire coupler carried on each end wall, each coupler being located midway between the container side walls and having an upper end normally projecting above the upper edge of the respective end wall, said trays being arranged with said end walls parallel to the rows of trays and with the trays in one row aligned with and located closely adjacent to the trays in the other row, and

a spacer comprising a relatively longitudinally rigid strip extending lengthwise of said rows across the upper edges of the opposing end walls of the trays in the two rows, said spacer having two rows of slots extending lengthwise of the spacer and receiving said projecting couplers, respectively, and each slot having a curved longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge which meet at the ends of the slot to define therebetween relatively narrow slot ends having a width approximately equal to the wire diameter of each coupler.

2. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said curved longitudinal edge curves progressively away from said second longitudinal edge commencing at said slot ends and proceeding toward the center of each said slot, where by each said slot has a relatively wide central portion.

3. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said slot ends are curved to a small radius substantially less than the radius of curvature of the curved longitudinal edge of each said slot.

4. The subject matter of claim 1 wherein said upper end of each said wire coupler has an inverted U-shaped configuration, with the width of said upper end being less than the width of its respective slot, and the width spaced downwardly from said upper end being substantially equal to said slot width so as to be snugly received by said slot ends when said spacer is so positioned on said upper edges of said end walls.

5. In combination: a pair of adjacent columns of stacked trays, each including two opposite end walls and two opposite side walls, coupler means carried on said end walls and having upper ends projecting above the respective end walls, said coupler means on a given tray being receivable by the end walls of the tray stacked thereon so as to interlock the trays in each said column to one another, said columns of interlocked trays being arranged with the trays in one aligned side-by-side with and closely adjacent to the trays in the other, and

a pair of spacers comprising relatively longitudinally rigid strips disposed on the top trays of said columns and extending horizontally therebetween at opposite ends of said adjacent columns, each of said spacers having slots for receiving the coupler means projecting up from the respective end walls of the top trays in said columns so as to interconnect said columns and prevent them from shifting relative to one another, and each slot having relatively narrow ends for snugly receiving the side edges of the respective coupler means and a relatively wide central portion.

6. The subject matter of claim 5, wherein the said coupler means has a progressively decreasing width from a point spaced downwardly fromsaid upper end proceeding toward said end, whereby to cooperate with its respective slot to facilitate reception thereby.

References Cited LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner, 

1. IN COMBINATION: TWO PARALLEL ROWS OF RECTANGULAR PRODUCE TRAYS, EACH INCLUDING TO OPPOSITE END WALLS AND TWO OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS, A WIRE COUPLER CARRIED ON EACH END WALL, EACH COUPLER BEING LOCATED MIDWAY BETWEEN THE CONTAINER SIDE WALLS AND HAVING AN UPPER END NORMALLY PROJECTING ABOVE THE UPPER EDGE OF THE RESPECTIVE END WALL, SAID TRAYS BEING ARRANGED WITH SAID END WALLS PARALLEL TO THE ROWS OF TRAYS AND WITH THE TRAYS IN ONE ROW ALIGNED WITH AND LOCATED CLOSELY ADJACENT TO THE TRAYS IN THE OTHER ROW, AND A SPACER COMPRISING A RELATIVELY LONGITUDINALLY RIGID STRIP EXTENDING LENGTHWISE OF SAID ROWS ACROSS THE UPPER EDGES OF THE OPPOSING END WALLS OF THE TRAY IN THE TWO ROWS, AND SPACER HAVING TWO ROWS OF SLOTS EXTENDING LENGTHWISE OF THE SPACER AND RECEIVING SAID PROJECTING COUPLERS, RESPECTIVELY, AND EACH SLOT HAVING A CURVED LONGITUDINAL EDGE AND A SECOND LONGITUDINAL EDGE WHICH MEET AT THE ENDS OF THE SLOT TO DEFINE THEREBETWEEN RELATIVELY NARROW SLOT ENDS HAVING A WIDTH APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO THE WIRE DIAMETER OF EACH COUPLER. 